Do We Drop the Ball When We Measure Ball Skills Using Standardized Motor Performance Tests?

Bouwien Smits-Engelsman,Dané Coetzee,Dorothee Jelsma

doi:10.3390/children9030367

Bouwien Smits-Engelsman, Dané Coetzee + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/children9030367

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Abstract

Background: Ball skill performance changes over time during childhood and depends on the child’s physical and psychological characteristics, environmental opportunities, and task constraints. The aim of this study was to examine whether different standardized ball skill-items measure similar constructs and whether results differentiate among age groups. Methods: A total of 250 children (6–10 years) were administered the Movement Assessment Battery for children second edition (MABC-2), the subtest upper-limb coordination of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency second edition (BOT-2), the tennis ball throw of the Fitness Test Battery (FTB), and the ball skills and overhead throw of the Performance and Fitness test (PERF-FIT). Results: Correlations among scores of BOT-2, FTB, and PERF-FIT ranged from fair to moderate, but correlations were low with the MABC-2. Principal component analysis retrieved three components: the first component contained catch, dribble, bounce, and throw items (MABC-2, BOT-2-SF, and PERF-FIT, respectively); the second contained throwing for distance (PERF-FIT and FTB); the third contained aiming (MABC-2). Most ball skill scores differed significantly between 6–7 and 7–8 years, but less between 8–9 years; the PERF-FIT discriminated best between age groups. Conclusion: Most ball skill items in motor tests belong to a comparable construct containing throw, dribble, bounce, and catch skills. However, aiming tasks belong to a separate category. Additionally, throwing for distance is a task that requires predominantly explosive power.

Highlights

Fair to good relationships were found between PERF-FIT and Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2nd Edition (BOT-2) items (r = 0.37–0.62), as well as among PERF-FIT, BOT-2, and overhand tennis throw (r = 0.23–0.50)
PERF-FIT, and BOT-2 skill items showed little to no relationship (r = 0.03–0.22) with MABC2 raw ball items scores and little to fair values with the MABC2 catch standard scores (r = 0.09–0.33)
Correlations among BOT-2, Fitness Test Battery (FTB), and PERF-FIT items were calculated separately for age bands 1 and 2 of the MABC-2; the results showed that the pattern of correlation was different for each age band

Summary

Introduction

The mastery of certain fundamental motor skills is a prerequisite for daily life functioning and participation in physical or sport-specific activities [1]. Barnett and collaborators showed that fitness, physical activity, and sport competence perception were positively associated with object control or ball skills [2]. Practicing ball skills leads to gradual adjustments, resulting in better performance. This way, children become increasingly skilled with age and experience [3–5]. Ball skill performance changes over time during childhood and depends on the child’s physical and psychological characteristics, environmental opportunities, and task constraints. The aim of this study was to examine whether different standardized ball skill-items measure similar constructs and whether results differentiate among age groups. Most ball skill scores differed significantly between 6–7 and 7–8 years, but less between 8–9 years; the PERF-FIT discriminated best between age groups. Conclusion: Most ball skill items in motor tests belong to a comparable construct containing throw, dribble, bounce, and catch skills. Throwing for distance is a task that requires predominantly explosive power

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